City of Pacifica
Pacifica History
Beginnings
At the end of the Ice Age, the ancestors of the California Indians left Asia, and came across the Bering Straits into North America. and filtered southward into California, where they settled along the coast and in river valleys. Nearly all of California's first inhabitants were hunters and gatherers of food rather than agriculturists or herdsmen.
The term Costanoan is a linguistic one; it designates a language family consisting of eight languages. Costanoan is derived from the Spanish word Costonos meaning 'coast people'. Two other terms were used earlier to designate the Costanoan languages. Olhonean and Mutsun. Olhonean is ultimately derived from the name of a tribelet, olxon, located on or near San Gregorio Creek in San Mateo County.
Ohlone is the name of the native Californians who lived on the Peninsula, in the East Bay, as far south as Monterey along the coast, and into the interior valley. "Ohlone" has replaced the Spanish-derived “Costanoan". Ramaytush or San Francisco Costanoan was spoken by about 1,400 people in San Mateo and San Francisco counties. The ethnic groups recognized by the Costanoan themselves were sets of tribelets who spoke a common language and lived in a contiguous area. The Ohlone ate little meat but subsisted on a diet of grasses, herbs, roots, berries, and nuts, in addition to an ample supply of fish and other seafood from the Pacific Ocean and its bays and estuaries.
Tule balsas were the watercraft of the Ohlone and were propelled with a double-bladed paddle. Balsas were used for transportation for fishing and duck hunting. Both sinew-backed and self-bows were made by the Ohlone. Bowstrings were made of either sinew or vegetable fiber. Arrows had three-feather radial fletching' attached with asphalt, a cane shaft, and a hardwood foreshaft. Arrowheads were made of stone or bone; for some types of arrows, the foreshaft served as the only head. Nets were used in hunting quail, ducks, and rabbits.
Blankets were woven of strips of sea otter, rabbit, or duck skin. Tule mats and animal skins served as bedding. Acorns, buckeye nuts. and seeds were ground in several different types of mortars. Stone mortars included bedrock mortars, portable stone mortars, and metates. and hopper mortars. Wooden mortars were hollowed in the side of logs. Small mortars were used for paint and medicine. Pestles were made of stone or wood. Most Ohlone basketry was twined rather than coiled. The materials employed in making baskets were willow, tule, and the roots of "cut-grass." Baskets were ornamented with abalone pendants, quail plumes, and woodpecker scalps.
Sanchez Adobe
Sánchez Adobe is a living history site that was occupied from prehistoric times until it became a historic landmark in 1953. It was an Ohlone village, a mission farm, a cattle ranch, the home of Francisco Sánchez (Mayor of San Francisco), a residence of General Kirkpatrick, the Hotel San Pedro, a speakeasy known as Adobe House and an artichoke storage facility. For many years it was the only provider of food for Mission Dolores in San Francisco. The old adobe home on the site, a fine example of authentic Monterey architecture, is the oldest building in San Mateo County.
Each September, a celebration of the California Rancho Period is featured during Rancho Day at Sánchez Adobe. Early Californian music and dance is performed, authentic Rancho food is served, and demonstrations by Bygone Trades and make-it-yourself crafts are offered to the public. Activities continue throughout the year as well, including docent tours of the building and site and historic shows.
Sweeney Ridge and the Discovery of San Francisco Bay
On November 4, 1769, Spanish Army Captain Gaspar de Portolá and his expedition climbed up to Sweeney Ridge from the Pacifica side and became the first Europeans to view San Francisco Bay. This discovery was a long time in coming. The Spanish and other voyagers had been sailing past the Golden Gate and the Bay since 1542. However, the Farallon Islands, persistent fogs and the small mouth to the Bay that the Golden Gate presents curtailed the actual realization of the existence of the greatest natural harbor on the Pacific Coast of North America for 227 years. It took Portolá’s overland party to finally happen upon it, and even at that, his group had actually passed by its real objective, Monterey Bay.
That night the group camped at a small lagoon now covered by San Andreas Lake. The site was first made a State Registered Historical Landmark No. 27 on June 15, 1932. This site was rededicated as a U.S.A. bicentennial project of San Andreas Lake Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and the City of Millbrae, California on November 6, 1976.
In 1987, Sweeney Ridge became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Today there are two permanent monuments at the Ohlone - Portolá Heritage Site - the first installed in 1975 and the second in 1983.
Today, Sweeney Ridge is a hilly hiking area of ridges and ravines between San Bruno and Pacifica. The ridge's 1,200-foot-high summit, covered with coastal scrub and grassland, slopes down to San Francisco Bay on one side and to the Pacific on the other.
Wildlife at Sweeney Ridge includes hawks, deer, and a plethora of both native and introduced spring wildflowers. The sandy coastline and adjacent wind-protected valley of Thornton State Beach are good venues for picnicking, beach walking, surf fishing, and flying remote-control gliders. Take in views from this site, including the Farallon Islands, Mount Tamalpais, Point Reyes, Mount Diablo, the Montara Mountains, and San Pedro Point, that are directed by a nearby granite monument.
Ocean Shore Railway
Much of Pacifica's layout owes its beginnings to a small, little-known railroad company. Incorporated in 1906, the Ocean Shore Railway Company planned to run a high-speed electric railway between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. To attract weekend excursions and tourists, the route would hug the shoreline as closely as possible.
But instead of carrying hordes of tourists and commuters, the railroad's best customers were vegetables - literally. Artichokes, beans, Brussels sprouts, peas, potatoes and other coastside produce were in high demand. Most ended up in East Coast homes and restaurants. Coastside farmers were paid 5.5 cents per choke. Artichokes went for 75 cents each in New York.
Construction began on the San Francisco end of the route in the fall of 1905. Railroad building had just reached Mussel Rock, where the San Andreas fault dives into the Pacific Ocean, when disaster struck. Early in the morning of April 17, 1906, an 8.1 earthquake started a rockslide above the new rail line. Ocean cliffs collapsed, dumping over 4,000 feet of railroad track, along with rolling stock and construction equipment, into the sea. Huge cracks opened up along the roadbed. Of the track that remained, much was twisted and contorted to such a degree that it resembled a roller-coaster. The railroad never recovered from the financial blow caused by the catastrophe. Investors dropped out, and, with less money, the directors decided to substitute a single-track steam line for the planned two-track electric railway.
By the end of 1907, the railroad ran from 12th Street & Mission Street, along present-day Alemany Boulevard in San Francisco to the Pacific, then along the oceanside to Tobin station in present-day Pacifica. The railroad line had several stops in Pacifica-Edgemar, Salada, Brighton, Vallemar, Rockaway, and Tobin before plunging into a 354-foot tunnel through San Pedro Mountain. It resurfaced at the edge of the high cliffs, 700 feet above the crashing surf. This dramatic ride caused a great deal of trouble for the rail line because the roadbed was built on an unstable piece of shifting mountainside known, appropriately, as Devil's Slide. Numerous slides damaged the roadway.
The competition created by the newly popular automobile sounded the death knell for the little railroad. It rarely made a profit and, in 1920, was forced to stop operations. Most of the Ocean Shore right of way was paved over and turned into Highway 1, reputed to be the most spectacular road on the West Coast.
Growth
Pacifica's history as a city begins in the early 1950s when a group of small coastal communities – including Vallemar, Rockaway Beach, Sharp Park, and Linda Mar - decided to come together to form a single municipality.
Pacifica means "peaceful" in Spanish. However, Pacifica's name was the product of a contest held in 1957 to find a name for the coastal city which was incorporated on November 22, 1957. The winning name was based on an 80-foot statue by sculptor Ralph Stackpole, created as the theme lady for the Golden Gate International Exposition. The Exposition was held on Treasure Island in 1939-40. The statue was destroyed after the fair was over but two of the sculptor's working models had been saved. One is over the front stairs at City Hall, the other sits in the City Council Chambers.
In the 1960s, residential and commercial development continued to expand, particularly in Linda Mar, which saw significant growth in this period. Residents recognized the importance of preserving their natural environment, which faced threats from uncontrolled development. The 1970s saw increased efforts to protect Pacifica's unique coastal habitats and open spaces. Organizations like the Pacifica Land Trust were established to help conserve the city's natural beauty. Additionally, it continued to develop its cultural identity, with the Sanchez Art Center and Pacifica Historical Society playing important roles in preserving the city's history and promoting local arts and culture.
In the 2000s, Pacifica focused on enhancing community involvement and engagement. The city launched initiatives to improve local parks, infrastructure, and recreational facilities, and became a hub for outdoor enthusiasts. The 2010s revitalized the city's downtown areas. In the 2020s, Pacifica continued to evolve and adapt to changing circumstances. The city's commitment to environmental sustainability and coastal preservation remained strong, with ongoing efforts to mitigate the effects of sea-level rise.
Current Day
Pacifica’s fascinating history includes it being an Ohlone village over a thousand years ago and where Europeans first saw San Francisco Bay. It has been part of Spain, Mexico, and the United States. During Prohibition, Pacifica was the home of rollicking speakeasies.
During the 1950s, Cold War-era fears of Soviet long-range “Bear” bombers caused the U.S. Army to develop a weapon to destroy those planes. Nike anti-aircraft missiles were deployed across the country, including 11 sites protecting the Bay Area. Nike Site SF-51 included a control station atop Sweeney Ridge and a missile launching site at nearby Milagra Ridge. By the 1960s, nuclear-capable Nike Hercules missiles stood guard on this ridgetop. Obsolete by 1974, SF-51 was abandoned under the provisions of an arms-reduction treaty.
Today Pacifica attracts visitors from around the world, drawn to its natural beauty, amazing hiking trails, three beaches, legendary surfing, the Sam Mazza Castle, and the world's most beautiful Taco Bell on Pacifica State Beach.
Visit the Pacifica Coastside Museum’s current exhibits including a working model of the Ocean Shore Railroad, the Portola Expedition, Pacifica in WWII, the Ohlone People, and more. Take the self-guided History Walk through Sharp Park, formerly known as Salada Beach.
Created in 1986 Pacifica plays host to the Pacific Coast Fog Festival along Palmetto Avenue every year during the last Saturday and Sunday of September. The festival showcases everything from artists and performers to children's activities, a hometown parade to contests, as well as a photo contest, displays and many vendors. Fog Cutter, an award-winning drink created expressly for Fog Fest, has been served every year since the festival's debut.
Every August, the World Dog Surfing Championship is held in Pacifica - the concept for the sport originated in California - bringing together dog surfing talent. Dog surfers are invited to bring home the gold for charity. Four-legged friends love water and many even like catching waves. These amphibious canines are special creatures: Top surfers believe that dogs who learn to surf develop a unique attitude, knowing they have something that sets them apart from other dogs.
Devil’s Slide Coast is an 8,900-acre network of publicly accessible lands located between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay. Explore diverse landscapes including dramatic ridgelines, bluffs, beaches, tidepools, historic sites, and crucial ocean habitats. With the opening of the Devil’s Slide Coastal Trail along the old stretch of Highway 1, this portion of the coast has been made accessible in new and exciting ways, offering opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, cycling, surfing, fishing or simply viewing from one of many scenic overlooks.
Text courtesy of:
https://pacificahistory.org/history
https://visitpacifica.com/historical-sites/
https://discoverpacifica.com/history
https://www.surfdogchampionships.com
https://www.cityofpacifica.org/about-us/history/sanchez-adobe
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/sb-sweeney_10-19.pdf
https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/san-francisco-bay-discovery-site.htm
https://historysmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/La-Peninsula-San-Bruno-Summer-2014.pdf